Tank closure or cover.



L. HOLT.

TANK CLOSURE 0R COVER.

APPLICATION EILED JUNE 10. 1915.

1,241,735. Patented 001;. 2,1917.

LA FAYE TE HOLT Wihn-coozo rrn sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

LAFAYETTE HOLT, OF BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF .TO

EUGENE HOLT, 0F BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

TANK CLOSURE 0R COVER.

Application filed June 10, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE Hour, of Burlington, in the county ofAlamance and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tank Closures or Covers; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel form of cover or closure for a tankopening, and it is particularly applicable to those types of tanks inwhich it is desired to maintain the contents of the tanks underpressure.

One of the objects of my invention resides in the provisionof a singleform of cover or closure which can be adjusted to the closing position,or to the opening position, by a single movement of a single member, andalso means are provided for clamping the cover in the closing position.

Another object of my invention is in the provision of radially arrangedclamping members movable into and out of clamping position, and meansfor simultaneously moving all of said clampin members.

Also a still further object of this invention resides in the provisionof means for finally setting each individual clamping member so that theclosing pressure at all points of the cover may be adjusted tocompensate for variations in the thickness of the packing ring or gasketwhich is placed therebeneath.

.I willnow proceed to describe my inven' tion more in detail withparticular reference to the apparatus illustrated on the accompanyingdrawing, which is illustrative of certain embodiments thereof which Ihave found in practice to give good results.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the cover or closure.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatical view of the same taken on thesection line 22 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the accompanying drawing the closure is applied to a tankhaving a flanged neck surrounding the opening therein, but it is to beunderstood that I do not limit this invention in any sense whatsoever toits application to this particular type of tank.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 191 '7.

Serial No. 33,337.

The upper head of the tank is indicated at 1 and is provided with anopening 2 surrounded by a flange member 3 carrying an overhanging lip l,the latter being radially slotted as shown at 5 and upon this lip restsa packing ring or gasket 6 of suitable thickness.

The cover or closure proper is indicated at 7 and is provided on itslower surface with a centering ring 8, the diameter of this centeringring being substantially the same as the diameter of the opening 2 inthe tank.

Peripherally of the 1i) 4 are arranged a series of radially extendingslots, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. superposedupon the top surface of the lip 4; is the cover 7 which is provided witha series of apertures 9 registering with the slots in the lip 4. Theseslots are however extended beyond the lip l and mounted therein forsliding movement are clamping members 10 which comprise a squaredportion 11 slidable in the slots in the lip 1, a lower head end 12 whichis adapted for engagement with the under-surface of the lip 4L, andstems 13 which extend through the apertures in the cover 7 and arethreaded for purposes to he hereinafter described.

Superposed upon the top of the cover 7 is a rotatable member 14 which ispivoted to the said cover 7 at its center as shown, the eye bolt 15servin r as the pivot. This member let is providecihvith angularlyextending apertures or slots 16 which correspond in number with theslots in the lip 4 and with the apertures in the cover 7. The threadedstems 13 of the clamping members extend through these apertures 16, andengage a nut portion 17 provided with a hand-wheel 18 for tightening theclamping members in place. The nut portions 17 are engaged by the slotsor apertures 16, and thus it will be seen that, by reason of the angulararrangement of these apertures 16, when the member 14 is rotated theclamping members, if loosened, will move inwardly and outwardly in theslots in the lip 4: and apertures in the cover 7, depending upon thedirection of rotation of the member 14. In order to provide convenientmeans for rotating the member 14: a handle 19 is provided thereon.

Due to the fact that the radial apertures 9 in the member 7 are of lesswidth than the nut portions 17 slidably guided in the slots 16 the saidportions 17 ride on the upper surface of the cover 7 which forms thesupmember 14in the direction indicated'by the arrow in Fig. lthe'clamping members will be simultaneously' moved into engagement withthe lip 4, and they inaybe then tightene d or set into place byadjusting the handwheels 18. However, if it is desired #to loosen andremove the cover i the handwheels 18 are first loosened and the member'14: is then rotated in the dire'ction-indicated by the arrows in Fig;2. This operation will withdraw the clamping-members from the 1 slots inthe :lip 4 and the cover? may then be removed by suitableimeans hookedin the eye bolt l5.

'VVhile I have described certain embodiments :of my invention, in theforegoing specification, it will be understood that variationsand'modifications'can be made therein, without departing 1 from thespirit and scope 'of the invention as set forth in the accompanyingclaims.

I'claim:

' 1. The combination withatank having an opening, ota flanged I member"surrounding said opening and having peripheral slots, means-for closingsaid opening including L a cover plate having apertures the-reincorresponding with the slots in said flangedmember, cover clampingmembers loosely car-' ried in said apertures for movement into and-outof engagement with said flanged member, means 1 i for simultaneouslymoving all'of said clamping members into and out "of said slots, andmeans fOr s'ecuringflsaid clamping members in the inward: position,substantially as described;

"2; The combination'with a tank having an -openlng, of a: flangedmembersurround-- ing said opening and 1 having peripheral slots,means movablein-a plane parallel W1th said cover for closing saicbopemng including acover having apertures therein corresponding W1th said slots, coverclamp ng members having squared shanks "slidable' in said' apertures andslots for movement into and outof engagement W1th said flanged member,means for simultaneously moving all of. said clamping members, andmeansfor v k securing said clamping members in the 111-" wardsipositionto-Iretain said cover in place,

substantially as described.

3. The combination withza tank having a circular 'opening, of a flanged.member surrounding said opening and having radially 3 extendingperipheral slots, means for closmg sald opening mcludmg' acover havingradially extending aperturescorresponding.a

with said slotsy cover clampingnnembers,

movable in said apertures: and slots" for:

movement intoand out offengagement'with sald flanged member, andiarotatable-"member superposed on: said cover and having spirally arrangedslots engaging-saidclamp,-v ing members to move the latter"lllliSEllClfiLPQP- tures and slots, and means rfor'se'curmg saidclamping members inc-the clamp'ed position,

substantially as described. v

4. In combination v with a tank opening having a flange provided withslots, arcoverhaving apertures registering with saidslots, a superposedrotatable memberwhavingslots at an angle to the said apertures,:.and'clamp:

ing means extending througlr said cover ands member and engaged bythe-vslots-in-ythe latter: to movesaid clamping' meansmtox and out a ofengagement with said flange;

5. In 'combination'=with-- a tankvhaving-a; flangedopening-provided'with slots,=xa cover:

having apertures *extending beyond said flange and registering with saidi slots, and clamping means movable-inone directionrin said aperturesand slotsto' engage :said flangeand" also movable ini a. reversedirection beyond said =fiange to permit removal'of said cover.. u

In testimony whereof, 1 It-haive signed' this specification :in thepresence of two (subscribing witnesses. I

LAFAYETTE HOL'T. I

Witnesses: I

J. O. LLOYD, Z; VJMcGLmm.

Copies= of;thiswatentmaybe,obtainedrfbr five cents each, 'by-addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

-Washington, DJC.

